Willing to...Suffer (and find Joy in it)?

In my last post I looked at Willing to...Serve? pointing out that churches have many areas in which they need help and that we should do everything we do "as to the Lord". I also pointed out that when we serve, we follow Jesus example, learn humility and share God's love.

Following on from that post, this post is going to look at whether we are Willing to Suffer? This may seem a strange way to follow on but I believe it is a biblical principle. Here are a couple of scriptures to back up my point.

Jesus was a SUFFERING Servant

Isaiah prophesied before Jesus was born that he would be "despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain." Isaiah 53:3.  The writer of Hebrews also says "so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood." The main purpose of Jesus walk on earth was to do the will of God, his father. For this to happen, Jesus had to suffer being rejected by men, betrayed by his disciple, having nails driven in his hand and thorns in his head as well as the incommunicable suffering of bring forsaken by his father. Jesus had immense suffering. If as Christians we believe that Christ is our perfect example then we cannot pick and choose what areas of Christ life are applicable to us. Christianity is not about "whatever suits me best and fits in with my life", but it is about saying "Jesus humbled himself to earth, suffered for me indescribable pain on the cross, for me. My only response can be to follow him and hand over to him every single area of my life". 

Very briefly, it is also worth looking at the suffering which the apostles and early christians went through in establishing the church. Many were crucified and imprisoned, stephen was stoned and some were exiled. Is it just coincidence that the people Jesus chose and commanded to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," - Matthew 28:19 also ended up suffering for that calling? Definitely not. We NEED to be prepared for this. Why?

We To are CALLED To Suffer

Paul in his letter to the Philippians says "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him" - Philippians 1:29. From this we can take that it is part of our calling that in following Christ, we follow him even in suffering. This doesn't mean that each of us will be crucified, the suffering may take many forms. You could suffer financially, spiritually, emotionally or even physically.

In Paul's letter to Timothy he calls him (and us) to "not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God." - 2 Timothy 1:8. So there is a direct link that can be made here. If as a Christian we are ashamed of the gospel, slow to share our faith in Christ then we will have an easy life but also an ineffective one. However, if we accept the call to boldly proclaim the gospel which brought us to salvation then a bi-product of that is suffering. It will happen. So how are we to view this suffering...? 

Joy, Joy, JOY!

Let me start by saying this is so much easier said than done. To find joy in suffering requires a total dependence on God and a realisation of what awaits you at the end of this life. But yes, we are called to be joyful in our suffering.

In Colossians, Paul says "Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you" -  Colossians 1:24. He also encourages us to "join with [him] in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God." - 2 Timothy 1:8. Why should we be joyful in suffering? Because even in our suffering we are glorifying God and for those who glorify God, he will honour. We should also be joyful in our suffering because we know that, no matter how much people may persecute us, a greater day awaits us after this life. A day when Jesus will "wipe every tear from [our] eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain" - Revelation 21:4. If we can manage to look past our suffering and look to the glory that awaits us, we will be able to find joy in our trials.


Paul goes even further and tells us that we should consider the suffering we receive as a gift. In that Philippians 1:29 verse he says "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him". When we receive a gift, we enjoy it and are thankful for it and we should even treasure it.


If we can get this mindset into our heads it will make suffering so much more bearable. Always ask yourself the question "Jesus gave his life for me and suffered so much for me, am I willing to suffer for him?"


Below is a video by John Piper on suffering. This video was sent to me a month or two ago and it has really stuck with me.

10 Reasons Why You Should Go To Church - Part 2

Ok well the last post I put up has had the highest number of hits of any posts I've done so far so here is Part 2. Hope you guys enjoy!


5. To Encourage and Be Encouraged
    One of the things I always take away from being in church is the encouragement it brings! Being surrounded by fellow brothers and sisters worshipping and praying out to God as well as Gods word being explained. Its such a great time. It's also a time when, whether we realise it or not, we encourage others just by being there and also more specifically when we pray or discuss things with them.


encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. - 1 Thessalonians 5 v11


6. Unity in the Gospel
    In one single church you will have different people with different views on various topics. There will be a difference of opinion on areas such as gifts of the spirit, prophecy, music and bible versions but as each member stands and sings or prays, we show a unity in the Gospel which saved us! Paul encourage us to keep this unity


Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called - Ephesians 4 v 2-4.


7. Preparation For Heaven
       It is true that God called us and saved us as individuals, but we are also called us (plural) to be His people. We are citizens of Heaven and children of the King and when we worship in Heaven, it will be a corporate event as much as an individual event. Even though church is the faintest of shadows to what Heaven will be like, it is still a glimpse into the glory that awaits us.


After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God, 
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.” - Revelation 7 v 9 & 10



8. Correction and Conviction
     I know that personally, I am rubbish at rebuking and correcting myself. If I know there's a particular ongoing sin in my life, I make sure it doesn't come up in my daily reading. So often when I go to church or home group, I feel convicted of something that I need to change in my life. God uses other people in our lives to help us along the path to righteousness. This includes correction.


Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid. - Proverbs 12 v 1


9. Servanthood 
    To be a servant is to have the mind of Christ. The best place we can serve is in church. There are so many different areas like meet and greet, setting up, setting down, audio-visual, worship, kids church, tea and coffee, leading a discussion group, offering lifts to those without transport along with many others. Church is a great place to serve.


He (Christ Jesus) made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant - Philippians 2 v 7


10. To Glorify God
     As much as this is the last point, it is definitely the biggest priority for us to do not only in church, but in the whole of our lives. God is a jealous God, jealous for His own glory. This does not make God wrong or sinful. He is our creator and our sustainer and he alone is worthy of all glory and all honour. No glory should go to anyone or anything else and we should reflect this when we go to church. To glorify God should be the one desire on our heart.


Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. - Exodus 34 v 14


One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. - Psalm 27 v 4


I really missed my church this week, but God obviously wanted to give me a wake-up call in learning to appreciate my church family more. I hope you've found these two posts useful in your own life. Perhaps you've been wavering in your church attendance. Maybe you've been hopping from church to church. Can I encourage you to find and settle into a good bible based, God centered, Christ focussed church quickly and, commit yourself to them as part of your life dedicated to God.


God Bless You

Your Kingdom Come!

Ok so here's another post where I don't have to do much. I know it's kind of cheating to post like this but what these guys have to say is so much better than anything I can come up with.


I've realised that in my praying, I'm praying loads for the people who I come into contact with to be saved and realise their need for the gospel. This, of course, is a great thing to pray for and important. However, very rarely am I praying for Jesus to come today...Now! I suppose my reason for not praying this is sometimes I think "Jesus come but can you wait until I finish my degree?". Perhaps for you it's "Jesus come but once I have a few years in this new job I've accepted" or "Jesus come but let me have a few more years enjoying my children going up".  Whatever the reason, and no matter how "good" the motive, it is wrong for us to pray this way. 


The New Testament church, as well as being radically missional and out reaching to the lost, also eagerly anticipated and expected Jesus to come soon. How great would it be if we had this mindset? Some people may turn and say "That will just make you too heavenly minded to be of earthly use". My response is that once we realise the joy which is to come, we will become ever the more missional and urgent in our proclamation of the gospel so that more people will be with us in eternity enjoying and glorifying God in eternity. This is what a good preacher, Sam Storms has to say on Heaven using the works of Jonathan Edwards. It is long but it is worth it. Please watch it and I pray that as you do, it will spur you on with excitement for the coming Kingdom and with an urgency to proclaim Jesus to those around us.


Piper introduces Sam. Enjoy

Click Here For Sermon On Heaven - Joys Eternal Increase